Page 600 - Sports

I-League: Lajong stun Churchill 3-2

Bottom-placed Shillong Lajong FC pulled off an upset 3-2 victory at home over second-placed Churchill Brothers, thanks to a double strike from Samuel Kynshi and a winning goal from Naorem Mahesh Singh in an I-League tie here on Tuesday.

India among World Cup favourites: Warne

Leg-spin legend Shane Warne believes India is one of the favourites to lift this year's World Cup trophy along with England and defending champions Australia.

Calicut beat U Mumba in Pro Volleyball League

Calicut Heroes notched up their second successive win in the Pro Volleyball League, defeating U Mumba Volley 3-2 in a thrilling battle here Tuesday. Calicut beat U Mumba Volley 15-10, 12-15, 15-13, 14-15, 15-9. For Calicut, it was yet again Ajith Lal who played the lead role with 16 points (15 spikes, 1 block), while skipper Dipesh Kumar Sinha stood out with 11 points (7 spikes, 3 blocks and 1 serve) for U Mumba Volley. Saqlain Tariq was adjudged the player of the match. Kochi Blue Spikers will take on Ahmedabad Defenders on February 6.

I-League: Indian arrows stun Minerva Punjab

Indian Arrows on Tuesday stunned champions Minerva Punjab FC by the odd goal here at the Kalinga Stadium to notch-up their fifth win of the ongoing 12th edition of the I-League season.With this victory, the Indian Arrows leapfrogged to the seventh position on the points table.Goals from Rohit Danu in the first half and Rahim Ali in the second ensured that Moinuddin's 68th-minute strike for the Champions went in vain. Akash Sangwan and Syrian midfielder Mahmoud Al Amna started the game for the visitors, replacing Dilliram Sanyasi and Saurav Rautella from their last game against Aizawl. Floyd Pinto, the Arrows coach, on the other hand, made two changes, bringing in Anwar Ali and Rahul KP in place of Narender and Ninthoi.Irish coach Paul Munster's visiting side dominated possession in the first half but the Arrows had the better scoring opportunities.One such opportunity was created by captain Amarjeet Kiyam in the 38th minute, when a long-range strike from him thundered the crossbar and

Sri Lanka drops skipper Chandimal from SA tour, Karunaratne named captain

Sri Lanka have dropped skipper Dinesh Chandimal from their recently-announced squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against South Africa and have named opener Dimuth Karunaratne as captain for the entire tour.According to a statement from Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), Chandimal is released of his duties as captain to take part in domestic cricket and "regain his form"."The National Selectors have decided to appoint Dimuth Karunaratne as the Stand-In Captain for the tour. They have also released Dinesh Chandimal from his duties as Captain and Player of the National test team to play domestic cricket to regain his form and be ready for future international tours," the SLC statement read.Form wise, the right-hand batsman has been going through a rough patch. In Sri Lanka's recently-concluded Test series against Australia, he made just 24 runs in four innings. Moreover, it is only one time in the last five Tests that he has crossed the fifty-mark.Other players who have lost their place .

ISL: Kerala blasters face toughest test in Bengaluru FC

Kerala Blasters will be facing a tough challenge in the form of Bengaluru FC in the ongoing Indian Super League (ISL) here at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Wednesday.The two sides have a burgeoning rivalry between them and three points will be highly coveted despite the disparity in their positions on the table. Bengaluru have all but sealed their spot in the play-offs with 30 points from 13 games while Kerala Blasters are out of the running for the same (10 points from 14 games)."The reason we are on top of the league is the work that we have put in as a whole. We take risks, but we know that we are taking risks. The final outcome is that we are on top of the league," Bengaluru head coach Carles Cuadrat said.Bengaluru FC will be boasted with the possible return of Miku, and the new signing midfielder cum winger Luisma Villa -adding more versatility to their attack. However, the leaders do have concern on the long dry run by captain Sunil Chhetri who hasn't found the back of net last

It's best if the best players play the big games: Solari

Real Madrid coach Santiago Solari said on Tuesday that he hopes Barcelona striker Leo Messi will be able to play in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final between the two sides on Wednesday evening.

Chandimal axed from Sri Lanka Test squad

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) on Tuesday dropped out-of-form skipper Dinesh Chandimal from the Test squad for the upcoming tour of South Africa.

Sarfraz to lead Pakistan in World Cup, announces PCB

Ending the confusion over Pakistan's World Cup captain, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Tuesday announced Sarfraz Ahmed as the team's leader in the showpiece event, starting May 30 in England and Wales.

Ranji Trophy final: Saurashtra stage fightback to stay in hunt

Saurashtra recovered from a faulty start to steady their ship, thanks to the lower order and throw the gauntlet at Vidarbha in the Ranji Trophy final here on Tuesday.

Mithali Raj may call it quits from T20 Internationals after home series against England

Indian women cricket team's seniormost player Mithali Raj in all likelihood will bring down curtains on her T20 International career after the home series against England while continuing in the 50-over format where she is still the captain of the side. While India's three-match T20 series against New Zealand starts in Wellington on Wednesday, it is still not clear whether Mithali will be a part of the playing XI. Even if she is picked in the playing XI, it has been learnt that the 36-year-old will not continue beyond the three-match T20 series against England, starting March 4 in Assam's Barsapara. "Mithali understands that skipper Harmanpreet Kaur will like to concentrate on building a team for the 2020 World T20 and that she is unlikely to feature in that tournament," a senior BCCI official told PTI on condition of anonymity. "But a player of her stature should get a warm send-off and that is likely to be against England," the official said. There are indications that Mithali may ..

Yash, Arya clinch table tennis crowns

Yash Dalvi and Arya Ghag Tuesday scored contrasting wins to emerge champions in the Junior boys and girls singles event of the GCH-Promotional Table Tennis Tournament organised here. In the boys final, Yash blew hot and cold before he managed to overcome Yuvraj Yadav 3-2 (11-9, 13-11, 5-11, 7-11 and 11-9), while Arya had things much her own way and breezed past Mrunal Kurade winning in straight games, 3-0 (11-6, 11-5 and 11-6), a media release said. Results (all finals) - Midget girls: Sara Jamsutkar bt Niva Chaughule 3-2 (8-11, 6-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-5). Midget boys: Vivaan Thakkar bt Param Bhiwandkar 3-1 (8-11, 11-0, 11-8, 11-3. Cadet girls: Mrinalini Singh bt Aarya Satarkar 3-1 (8-11, 13-11, 11-9, 11-2). Cadet boys: Tavanth Nerlaje bt Aarya Panchal 3-0 (11-6, 11-5, 11-5). Sub-junior girls: Trisha Dalmia bt Arya Ghag 3-1 (11-3, 11-7, 6-11, 11-9). Sub-junior boys: Kshitij Chikane bt Soham Mate 3-0 (11-6, 11-9, 11-4). Junior girls: Arya Ghag bt Mrunal Kurade 3-0 (11-6, ...

Lajong upset Churchill's title hopes with late winner

Bottom-placed Shillong Lajong scored a late goal to pull off an upset 3-2 win over over second-placed Churchill Brothers in a crucial match of the 12th I-League football tournament here Tuesday. Samuel Kynshi (36th, 45th minutes) scored a brace before Naorem Mahesh Singh (83rd) scored a late winner to derail Churchill's title hopes at the JLN Stadium here. As a result of Lajong's win, Chennai City FC remain on top of the points table with 30 points from 4 games. The talented Mahesh scored his fourth league goal late in the second half to ensure Churchill remain on 29 points, a point adrift of Chennai and in second place after 16 games. Churchill did well to get back on level terms through Willis Plaza's 17th league goal and an Anthony Wolfe strike in the second half, after going into the break two goals down, but Mahesh's left foot had the last say in the game. Churchill's Romanian coach Petre Gigiu made three changes to his side from the last game. The game began and continued at a ..

Impressive win for Sasikumar, Nagal bows out of ATP Challenger

India's Sasikumar Mukund came up with an impressive performance to outclass his German rival Sebastian Fanselow 6-3, 6-1 in the second round of the Chennai Open ATP Challenger 80 tennis tournament here Tuesday. However, Sumit Nagal, who is aiming to get his career back on track after a moderate 2018, suffered a 3-6, 4-6 loss to Korea's eighth seed Duckhee Lee. Mukund played fluent, attacking tennis to subdue his German rival. He started strongly and held serve with an ace. Fanselow struggled but held serve in his opening game. From 2-all, Mukund won 12 of the next 13 points to go ahead 5-2. The German held on to his serve after great difficulty to claw back to 3-5. Mukund then saved the only break point against him with an ace and thereafter went on to win the next two points to clinch the first set 6-3. The Indian was at his best in the second set, securing a break in the very first game and began to find the lines with greater regularity. Fanselow held serve in the third game but ...

I-League: Real Kashmir in key home clash against Gokulam Kerala (Preview)

Real Kashmir FC will look to get three points against Gokulam Kerala FC and further nurture their hopes of a dream title win on debut when the two sides meet in a key I-League clash at the TRC ground here on Wednesday.

Punjab, Mumbai in quarterfinals of men's Senior National Hockey

Defending champion Hockey Punjab and Mumbai Hockey Association Ltd entered the quarterfinals of the ninth men's Senior National Hockey Championship (Division A), here Tuesday. Punjab were held to a 3-3 draw by Services Sports Control Board (SSCB) in a thrilling match, while Mumbai secured a 3-1 win against Hockey Chandigarh in another Pool A match. India striker Ramandeep Singh scored the first goal for Hockey Punjab in the 10th minute but the 1-0 lead was equalised in the 24th minute through Biraj Ekka of SSCB. Though Hockey Punjab struck two crucial goals in the 29th and 34th minute through Rupinder Pal Singh and Akashdeep Singh to take a 3-1 lead, Biraj and Rajant scored in the 38th and 57th minute to help their team split points and ensure a place in the quarter finals. Among others, Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB) and Hockey Haryana qualified from Pool B, Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB) and Punjab & Sind Bank made the cut from Pool C and Air India Sports ...

Real Kashmir eye win in key home clash against Gokulam

Debutants Real Kashmir FC will be aiming for nothing less than a victory in their bid to keep title hopes alive when they take on Gokulam in a 12th I-League encounter here Wednesday. Kashmir are on 29 points from 15 games, just one behind leaders Chennai City and a victory on Wednesday can catapult the debutants to the top spot. Kashmir's chances livened up after second-placed Churchill Brothers lost 2-3 to laggards Shillong Lajong in Shillong on Tuesday. Both Real Kashmir and Churchill are on 29 points but the Goan side is just ahead on account of a better goal difference. Gokulam, on the other hand, are totally out of the equation, having garnered 12 points from 14 games. But under new Technical Director Gift Raikhan, Gokulam have shown some stomach for fight of late after a promising start to the campaign two months earlier. Both teams played out draws in their last game, but Gokulam's performance against Mohun Bagan will surely boost their confidence ahead of Wednesday's crucial ..

Indian Arrows stun Minerva to notch-up fifth win in I-League

Indian Arrows stunned defending champions Minerva Punjab FC 2-1 to notch-up their fifth win of the 12th I-League season and leapfrog to the seventh position on the points table here Wednesday. Goals from Rohit Danu in the first half and Rahim Ali in the second ensured that Moinuddin's 68th-minute strike for the Champions went in vain. Rahim Ali was declared Hero of the Match, for scoring the second insurance goal for his team at Kalinga Stadium. Irish coach Paul Munster's visiting side dominated possession in the first half but the Arrows had the better scoring opportunities. One such opportunity was created by captain Amarjeet Kiyam in the 38th minute, when a long-range strike from him, thundered the crossbar and came back. Under-16 youngster Rohit Danu was at hand to head home the rebound. This was the talented Danu's third goal of the league campaign. The Arrows got off to a swift start in the second half, when Rahim Ali slotted the ball past keeper Arshdeep in the Minerva goal off

Former cricket coach Rajabhau Oak dead

Former cricket coach Rajabhau Oak, who mentored several players, including those who represented Maharashtra, died here Tuesday due to old age. He was 85. "Oak sir died at a hospital here Tuesday morning. He (Rajabhau) was the coach at the Deodhar Trust (a cricket academy). He was also the coach of Nutan Marathi Vidyalaya (a school in Pune) and both were good teams. He had also coached S P College," Maharashtra coach Surendra Bhave, who was trained by Oak, told PTI over phone. "The Deodhar Trust used to run on the interest on the prize money received by Prof D B Deodhar from the government. Many players came forward through it. Rajabhau worked tirelessly for cricket and also managed affairs of the Deodhar Trust for about 35-40 years. His contribution (to the game) was huge," Bhave added. According to Bhave, who played 97 first-class matches along with him, players like former off-spinner Shantanu Sugvekar were trained by Oak. Former Maharashtra speedster Pandurang ...

Karnataka humbles Andhra Pradesh in football tourney

: Karnataka defeated Andhra Pradesh 5-0 in a Group A match of the South Zone qualifier of the 73rd Santosh Trophy football tournament at Bharathi stadium here Tuesday. Andhra was given a reality check by Karnataka, after it had held a strong Tamil Nadu team 1-1 in its opening fixture on Sunday. Though the scores indicate it to be a romp for Karnataka, the rivals put up a good fight though defensive lapses and inability to pierce the opponents penalty area proved costly. The two teams went hard at each other in the first half hour of the game, before Leon Augustine broke through for Karnataka with a goal in the 32nd minute. A defensive lapse resulted in Augustine slotting home. The second goal came through a penalty when Mandir Singh scored after the referee showed the spot after a rough tackle by Andhras Gogula Manjunatha from behind. He in fact copped a red card for his misadventure. After a quiet period which saw no goals and several threatening moves by Karnataka, a ..